Key case



J. STIFELMAN Nov. 28, 1967 KEY CASE Filed Aug. 23, 1965 AVVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS `United States Patent Office 3,354,678 Patented Nov.' 28, 1967 3,354,678 KEY CASE Jack Stifelman, 391 Oliver Road, Enield,jConn. 06030 Filed Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 481,811

` 2 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A" thermoplastic key case having individual key receptacles in which keys can be stored in inclined parallel positions. The top and bottom walls of the case are parallel to one another, and the side wallsv are angularly related to the parallelwalls and to the key receptacles. A closure I`is provided at one end of the case, and the other end of the case is open, and has notches to cam each key into alignment with its associated receptacle. A plunger is slidably received in each receptacle and has an integral button portion extending through a slot in the key case wall. A ca'ble interconnects all the plungers so that ad- Y vancing-one key by use of its associated button causes any other key and button to be retracted.l

This invention relates to key cases and deals more particularly with a key case in which each individual key can be selectively extended or retracted therefrom by operating novel means outside the key case.

A general object-of the present invention is to provide key and extend the same with-out having to examine all his keys in detail to be sure he `has selected the proper one, suitable means being provided for storing a plurality of keys and for indexing these keys so that each key can be preadily identified andy extended from the case `without vseconclikey automatically causing the iirst key to be retracte'd into the case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a key case -in which al1-of the keys can be retracted a key case which allows the user to select a particular inside the case at vany one time but in which only oneof the keys'can be extended therefrom at any one time.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide a hand held key case of the foregoing character wherein any key can be extended or retractedtherefrom with the same hand in which the key case is held.

Still anotherl object of the present invention is to provideva key case whichcan be injection moulded of a relatively inexpensive thermoplastic material. Thedrawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may 'be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a key case constructed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating one key being stored in the case.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the key case shown in FIG. 1 as indicated at 2 2 on that ligure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the key case shown in FIG. 1 showing a key as it would appear extended from the key case, and also showing the means for automatically causing any other keys contained in the key case to be retracted therein.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the key case shown in FIG. 1 with a portion of the housing broken away t0 reveal the construction of the key connected part.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the key case shown in FIG. l as indicated at 5-5 on FIG. 2.

Turning now to the drawing in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a key case embodying the present invention in which a pl-urality of keys are adapted to be stored. As set forth hereinbelow, each key (for example the single key shown at 10) can -be selectively extended and retracted to and from a position outside the key case by novel means of the present invention. Preferably, and as shown, the key case comprises a generally hollow thermoplastic housing 12 having a generally flat top surface 14 and a generally flat bott-om surface 16, the latter surface being best shown in FIG. 5. Each of these surfaces, 14 and 16 define elongated slots 18, 18. Preferably, and as shown, the top wall 14 defines all but one of such slots 18 and the bottom wall 16 will be seen from FIG..5 to deiine a single such slot 18. FIG. 2 is an end view of the housing 12 and shows longitudinally extending side walls 20 and 22, which support the top and Ibottom walls 14 and 16 respectively in spaced parallel relationship. The side walls 20 and 22 are generally similar to one another and the wall comprises a short section as forexample 20a which is perpendicular to the bottom wall and angled section 20b which is connected to the top wall 14 as shown. The opposite side wall 22 is similarly constructed, having a section 22a connected at right anges to the top wall 14 and located generally opposite the section 20a just described and an angled section 22b connected to thebottom wall 16 and located generally opposite the section 20b just described.

A plurality of individual key receptacles are defined in the housing 12 and each of these receptacles is further defined by a series of transversely spaced interior-walls 24, 24 which are relatively thin compared to the thicknes of a conventional key.

It will be seen from FIG. 2 that each of these interior walls 24, 24 is parallel to the angled side wall section 20b and 22b to provide a plurality of key receptacles, A, B, C, D and E in which a conventional key can be slidably received. The keys will not tend to become jammed as they are moved therein due to the smooth side walls. The receptacles B, C, and D are in the shape of a parallelogram, while the end receptacles A and E are generally trapezoidal in shape. Preferably, and as shown, the walls 24, 24 and the angled sidewall-sections '20b and 22b are inclined with respect to the top` and bottom walls 14 and v16 at approximately 30. It has been found that this arrangement provides a very compact key case, which is nevertheless, well adapted to receive keys of conventional size and shape. I

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a closure `26 is provided at one end of the key case 12 and this closure 26 corresponds generally to the exterior shape of the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the interior walls 24, 24 may extend some distance beyond said one end of the housing 12 and as so arranged these walls are adapted to be received in and supported by the closure 26 when the latter is assembled with the housing 12. The depth of the closure corresponds approximately to the thickness of the plungers 30 and 32 to be described.

With further reference to FIG. 2, each of the parallel sided key receptacles B, C, and D has a plunger 28 slidably received therein. The left and right hand end receptacles A and E respectively, each have a trapezoidally shaped plunger 30 slidably received therein. All of the plungers 28, 28 and 30, 30 are provided with an integral button 32 which extends through the slot 18 associated with each receptacle and each of said buttons thereby ceiving a conventionalloop member key case link 36 which is of slightly greater lateral width than the lateral Width of the key receptacle. The key 10, as best shown in FIG.- 3, is connected to the link 36 by a clasp 38 and Y las so connected it will be apparent that ythe key is free to rotate with respect to the plunger 30 but that the clasp permits only limited articulation of the key with respect to the link 36.

-In `further accord with the present invention, each of the plungers 28, 28 and 30, 30 are interconnected by a cable 40 which passes around the button portion 32 of each plunger, as shown in FIG. 4, and around the depending portion of each of the interior walls 24, 24, as shown in FIG. 3. Suitable grooves are provided in the interior walls 24, 24, and in the plungers 28, 28, and 30, 30, for the cable 40 so that the closure 26 can be slidably received on the housing as shown without interferring with the operation of the cable 40. The cable 40 is preferably of such a length that the extension of one of the keys, as yshown in FIG. 3, .causes the remaining keys to be vurged toward their retracted positions so that only one key at any one time will be positioned outside the housing 12. The cable 40 preferably comprises a .ilexible synthetic multiiiiarnent cord of particular length for operation in the manner just described. It will be apparent that all of the keys can be retracted inside the `housing and that a portion of the flexible cable 40 will be stored in one of the key receptacles.

In further accord with the present invention, the bottorn wall 16 of the housing 12 is notched as best shown in FIG. 5 in order to provide a camming surface for engaging the Side edge of a key being retracted to urge the same into its proper receptacle. Thus each of the key receptacles has a notch -42 associated therewith. It

'will be observed that the slot 18 deiined in the rear wall .16 has its notch 42b deiined in the side Wall section 22a and a similar notch 42h is defined in the corresponding side wall section 20a as best shown in FIG. 2. The function 0f these camming notches 42 and 42b is best shown in FIG. 3 wherein .one o f the buttons 32 is located in a position adjacent the end ,of its slot 1-8. The key 10 will be .cammed by the notch 42, not shown, as the button is drawn downwardly toward the enclosed end of the housing 12.

Preferably, and as yshown in FIG. 3, the clasp maintains the key in alignment with its key receptacle during return movement of the associated plunger. The notches 42 and 4212 further cam the key into alignment with the side walls for the associated key receptacle thereby tacilitating the retraction of the key therein.

The invention claimed is;

1. A key case for .storing a plurality of keys so that any one 'key can .be selectively extended therefrom, said case comprising .a generally hollow thermoplastic housing having generally liat top and bottom walls arranged parallel to one another, said housing having side walls supporting said top and bottom walls in spaced relation to one another, said housing further including transversely spaced interior walls which are relatively thin compared to the thickness of a conventional key, which interior walls are also parallel to one another and are inclined with respect to said top and bottom walls at an angle of approximately 30, all of said walls cooperating with one another to define a plurality of key receptacles, each of which key receptacles is adapted to slidably receive a conventional key, a closure for one end of said housing which deines an inner end of each 'ofsaid key receptacles, a plunger slidably received in .each of said key receptacles for reciprocable movement toward and away from an open end of each .of said key receptacles, link means for connecting said keys to said plungers, each of, said plungers including an integral button extending through an elongated slot in one of said housing walls associated with a particular key receptacle whereby each key can be selectively extended and retracted to and from 'a position outside said housing, each of said slots extending `from the inner end of its associated key receptacle, toa point spaced inwardly from the outer edge thereof, cable means interconnecting said plungers so that advancing movement of one of said button connected plungers is accompanied by reverse movement of the remaining plungers so that only one key can be positioned outside said housing at any o ne time, and key camming notch means adjacent the open end of each of said key receptacles, each of said notch means being located opposite to the slot defining portion of each key receptacle so that return movement .of that particular plunger connected button cams the key into alignment with the interior walls of said key receptacle, thereby facilitating the retraction ofthe key therein.

Z. A key case as set forth in claim 1 wherein all but one of said elongated slots are provided in the top wail of said housing, said single slot in said bottom wall being provided adjacent a side edge of said housing to provide a key case With symmetrical housing side walls.

References yCited UNITED STATES PATENTS y1,974,245 9/*1934 Lista 2---- 7o45.6 2,076,895 4/1937 Johnston m- 7th-456 2,564,918 s/1951 oid m 10,-456 2,669,859 2/1954 Hudson 'lon-456 2,778,217 1/1957 Duyn -..7... .70-456 2,931,210 4/1960 Agee :1c-645.6 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,310 1912 Great Britain.

FRANCIS K, ZUGEL, Primary Examiner,

MARVIN A, CHAMPION, Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A KEY CASE FOR STORING A PLURALITY OF KEYS SO THAT ANY ONE KEY CAN BE SELECTIVELY EXTENDED THEREFROM, SAID CASE COMPRISING A GENERALLY HOLLOW THERMOPLASTIC HOUSING HAVING GENERALLY FLAT TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS ARRANGED PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID HOUSING HAVING SIDE WALLS SUPPORTING SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID HOUSING FURTHER INCLUDING TRANSVERSELY SPACED INTERIOR WALLS WHICH ARE RELATIVELY THIN COMPARED TO THE THICKNESS OF A CONVENTIONAL KEY, WHICH INTERIOR WALLS ARE ALSO PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER AND ARE INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS AT AN ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY 30*, ALL OF SAID WALLS COOPERATING WITH ONE ANOTHER TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF KEY RECEPTACLES, EACH OF WHICH KEY RECEPTACLES IS ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY RECEIVE A CONVENTIONAL KEY, A CLOSURE FOR ONE END OF SAID HOUSING WHICH DEFINES AN INNER END OF EACH OF SAID KEY RECEPTACLES, A PLUNGER SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN EACH OF SAID KEY RECEPTACLES FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM AN OPEN END OF EACH OF SAID KEY RECEPTACLES, LINK MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID KEYS TO SAID PLUNGERS, EACH OF SAID PLUNGERS INCLUDING AN INTEGRAL BUTTON EXTENDING THROUGH AN ELONGATED SLOT IN ONE OF SAID HOUSING WALLS ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR KEY RECEPTACLE WHEREBY EACH KEY CAN BE SELECTIVELY EXTENDED AND RETRACTED TO AND FROM A POSITION OUTSIDE SAID HOUSING, EACH OF SAID SLOTS EXTENDING FROM THE INNER END OF ITS ASSOCIATED KEY RECEPTACLE, TO A POINT SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE OUTER EDGE THEREOF, CABLE MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID PLUNGERS SO THAT ADVANCING MOVEMENT OF ONE OF SAID BUTTON CONNECTED PLUNGERS IS ACCOMPAINED BY REVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE REMAINING PLUNGERS SO THAT ONLY ONE KEY CAN BE POSITIONED OUTSIDE SAID HOUSING AT ANY ONE TIME, AND KEY CAMMING NOTCH MEANS ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF EACH OF SAID KEY RECEPTACLES, EACH OF SAID NOTCH MEANS BEING LOCATED OPPOSITE TO THE SLOT DEFINING PORTION OF EACH KEY RECEPTACLE TO THAT RETURN MOVEMENT OF THAT PARTICULAR PLUNGER CONNECTED BUTTON CAMS THE KEY INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE INTERIOR WALLS OF SAID KEY RECEPTACLE, THEREBY FACILITATING THE RETRACTION OF THE KEY THEREIN. 